Quick answer. You do not need to change money at Nassau. The Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and US notes are taken everywhere, though change often comes back in Bahamian money. Taxis from the stand outside arrivals charge set zone fares, roughly $22 to $30 to Cable Beach, $32 to $36 downtown and $38 to $45 to Paradise Island for two people, mostly in cash. If you want notes, take them from a bank machine, not the exchange desk. Scotiabank is a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner in the Bahamas: BoA's $5 non-network fee is waived there, but the 3% international transaction fee still applies. Spend your Bahamian notes before you leave; banks abroad will not take them.
Where to get Bahamian dollars at NAS
At NAS most Americans need no exchange at all: bring a card with no foreign transaction fee and a few small US notes. Figures assume $100 worth of Bahamian dollars.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paying in US dollars or by a no-FX-fee card | Everywhere | None; the currencies trade at par | $100 |
| Bank ATM, in Bahamian dollars | Arrivals hall | Operator fee of a few dollars | ~$102-105 |
| Airport exchange desk | Arrivals hall | Commission on a 1:1 swap | ~$103-108 |
| Bringing Bahamian notes home | Your bank at home | Often refused, or bought back at a deep discount | Lost value |
Bank machines at Nassau (NAS), the taxi stand, and US preclearance
Nassau's airport is three buildings on one site: the US Departures terminal, where you clear US Customs and Border Protection preclearance before flying home, so your flight lands in the US as a domestic arrival; the International Arrivals building used by every inbound international flight; and a Domestic terminal for Bahamasair and the small carriers to the Out Islands. Bank machines sit in the public arrivals area and around the check-in halls. They dispense Bahamian dollars, which spend exactly like US dollars on the island but cannot be changed back easily once you leave. Scotiabank, RBC and CIBC Caribbean run most of the island's machines; Scotiabank is the Global ATM Alliance partner here, which matters only if you bank with Bank of America. The Bahamas money guide covers the par peg and the Out Islands, and the Nassau money guide covers the Straw Market, the jitneys and the Paradise Island bridge.
International Arrivals
All international flights from the US, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean
After immigration and customs, bank machines are in the public arrivals area. They dispense Bahamian dollars. Take only what you need for a few days, and decline any offer to convert the withdrawal into US dollars at the machine's rate. The taxi dispatcher's stand is directly outside.
US Departures (preclearance)
Flights to the United States
Check in, then clear US customs and immigration here before boarding. Spend or swap any Bahamian notes before you reach the gate: the shops airside take them, but banks in the US do not. Allow extra time; preclearance queues build in the early afternoon.
Domestic terminal
Bahamasair and charter carriers to the Out Islands
A separate, smaller building. Withdraw before you fly to the Out Islands, where machines are scarce and some small islands have none.
Do you actually need cash at Nassau (NAS)?
For the taxi, usually yes. After that, US dollars or a card cover almost everything:
Taxi to Cable Beach and Baha Mar (roughly $22-30 for two): About 15 minutes; set zone fares, about $4 per extra passenger, cash preferred.
Taxi to downtown Nassau (roughly $32-36 for two): About 25 minutes; confirm the fare with the dispatcher first.
Taxi to Paradise Island and Atlantis (roughly $38-45 for two, plus the bridge toll): About 30 minutes; bag fees and a 15 percent tip are expected.
Jitney (minibus) (about $1.25-1.50 in town): No regular service from the terminal; exact cash, paid when you get off.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Nassau (NAS) to Nassau?
Usually, for the taxi. Nassau's airport taxis charge set zone fares, and many drivers want cash; US dollars are fine. After that, cards work at hotels, restaurants and the larger shops, and US notes cover the Straw Market, the jitneys and tips.
Can I order Bahamian dollars before flying?
No. The Bahamian dollar trades at par with the US dollar, and American notes are accepted everywhere. Bring small US bills, $1s, $5s and $10s, for taxis, jitneys and tips. CEI Currency Exchange can ship them if you want crisp small notes in hand.
Can I use US dollars in Nassau?
Yes. The Bahamian dollar is pegged one to one to the US dollar and US notes are accepted everywhere in Nassau and on Paradise Island. Change is often given in Bahamian dollars, which you should spend before you leave because banks outside the Bahamas rarely take them.
Is Scotiabank in the Bahamas part of the Global ATM Alliance?
Yes. Scotiabank is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner in the Bahamas, so a BoA debit card is spared BoA's 5 dollar non-network fee and the operator's fee at Scotiabank machines. BoA's 3 percent international transaction fee still applies.
What taxes are added to a Nassau hotel bill?
Value added tax of 10 percent, plus resort levies that vary by area: hotels in Nassau and on Paradise Island typically add a tourism promotion levy, a service charge and a resort fee, and VAT is charged on several of these. Expect the final bill to be well above the room rate you were quoted. The departure tax is already in your air ticket.